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I just got my HP laptop assembled, started again, but the same old problems started. Unable to use Internet Explorer--it keeps shutting down. Can't update the Windows Updates. Used Iobits Security 360 which did download the updates. Then after a restart it began continuous rebooting without starting. So I'm finished with this laptop, and will donate it to a computer recycling center in our area.
But I learned how to open and close it and get the cover back on.
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I would try a full re-install first. If it still won't work, remove the hard drive before you pass it on to a recycling centre
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Sam has a point Joan. The things you are describing point directly to a corrupted Windows install. A clean reinstall will fix this and you should have a working, spare machine. the only cost would be a little time.
Good catch finding the "not quite plugged in" RAM - this could easily have caused the Windows corruption in the first place.
Sam also has a point RE HDD content - if you don't want to keep it at least remove it and drill some big holes in it OR download a secure wipe proggy off the 'net and securely erase it. Even if you don't think there's personal data on it you may be surprised what some people can find. In this situation let Paranoia be your middle name - say, did you know that you're only paranoid if you're wrong?
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya  --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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I am trying to get a stable reinstall on my laptop now. It is developing the same tendencies as before. Windows updates seem to make it unstable as does using Internet Explorer which shuts down on occasion. I have 2 Hard drives to try as well as both WinXP pro and XPhome. I find it hard to believe that each HD and each of my installation disks are all corrupt, but that may be the case. Is it possible that the formatting process I'm using doesn't totally wipe the HD and that something is staying on each of these HD's to corrupt my installations.
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It is more likely you have a memory fault, though I would expect it to show up during initial install, not during updates... Download and burn one of these iso's to create a bootable CD (DVD?): http://www.memtest.org/#downisothis will perform a memory test that you can confirm or not, my supposition. It is also possible that there is another fault.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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Lawrie, how do I create a bootable CD with these mem tests.
Is there a test already unzipped that I can use?
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G'day Joan, this link http://www.memtest.org/download/4.00/memtest86+-4.00.iso.zip is the second link in the list. Download and unzip it to extract a memtest CD .iso file. Use your burner software to create a CD from the .iso image, it will be bootable without any further things to do. An .iso image is like a sector by sector Ghost image of the CD - it is exactly what the contents of the CD needs to be. Your burner software should hve an option to create from an image... It is important you create FROM the image and not simply copy the image to a data CD. Boot from the CD and follow the prompts.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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I saw these notes in the mem test (if I had it working correctly)
No FAT32 volumes found
Partition C: installed
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G'day Joan,
Both reports make sense - with XP you would be using NTFS partitions so there would be no FAT32 ones and as you have windows installed there must be a partition created - normally the first one is called C:.
What about the memory tests? What results did you get?
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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I didn't know enough about running the memory tests. Since then I lost my last installation, wiped the drive, reformated and neither Win Home or Win Pro would install without errors. So then I installed my backup copy of my Asus desktop on it. I may be giving this up again without success.
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G'day Joan,
if there are 2 memory modules take one out and try to run the tests (booting from the CD you've made - the tests run immediately with no need for intervention from you - if there are faults they get shown in the lower half of the screen - they will take a while to run). You don't need windows installed to do this. If you get failures, swap the memory modules so you test the other one.
If you still get errors move the module under test to the other slot, and finally swap the modules again - this will test both modules individually in both slots. You should be able to determine from this if you have:
a) a faulty module
b) a faulty slot
c) something else wrong.
It is unlikely, though not impossible, that both modules or both slots are faulty. If things do appear that way then the motherboard is more probably at fault.
If a module is faulty then a replacement is not that expensive. If a slot is faulty then the largest module that will work in the other slot is also not that expensive. If it is the motherboard I wouldn't waste any further time...
Last edited by Lawrie; 10/18/09 06:00 AM.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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I got an email from Best Buy about buying an upgrade before release (August 22?). I heard that are going to charge 49. fro the home premium and 99 for the Premium Upgrade. If you upgrade to the same level of XP or Vista your update is just that, if you go to 'another' level, you have to start from scratch. And if you go from 32 to 64 same update from scratch. I'm in for saving 50 bucks as quick as the next guy.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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I was able to get my laptop working again. I used the backup copy from my desktop and installed it on my HP laptop with some tweaking of HP driver software. It is starting and shutting down ok. I have the Win updates installed, my wifi is connecting to the internet, and I have a virus checker installed. I will use it until its (NEXT) crash which may or may not happen.
I called our Best Buy and found the upgrade to 7 from XP for $99. I would still have to wipe off the data and reinstall. Do I need to buy an upgrade for each of my computers or can it be installed more than once. That is probably why my laptop kept crashing because Windows knew it was being reinstalled on different machines repeatedly.
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Retail licences are single machine - whether upgrade or new install.
Don't forget windows phones home too.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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The main problem Joan is you can do one machine or the other. A friend of mine got a computer from 'some guy', and a month ago it started saying that the copy of windows isn't valid. Then suddenly nothing works. Big brother knows if you are running 2 copies on 2 machines.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Can anyone share what improvements were made to 7 from Vista? I have been trying to find anything on the microsoft site but all I get is videos by one of its developers boasting about the same features I already have in Vista.
Help anyone?
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RickeG, just about every computer magazine on sale now has an article about this. My main observation from using Win 7 for the last six months would be improved speed and stability. These are evolutionary improvements to the core program, not revolutionary, for someone coming from Vista, but they are important. Also, there is a lot less nagging due to the improvements in User Account Control.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Matt:
So for the average user (me) that doesn't do extreme software tests while attempting to crash the system, and who can't recall the last time XP actually crashed (during a recent beta test the program shut down but XP and all other programs that were open kept running) what advantage would I notice with a change to Win 7? It seems that being more of a CPU hog doesn't qualify W7 as an upgrade.
Or am I just being too cynical?
Glenn
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Not at all, Glenn; that's a realistic view. I don't think there is any pressing reason for you to upgrade if your present system works for you.
If I did not need to remain current for my students, and solve other people's computer problems, I wouldn't either.
At some point, probably several years away, XP will no longer support new add-on devices made without legacy drivers, and at that point, you'll need to upgrade. In the meantime, make music.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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So, it seems that I wouldn't get much benefit from upgrading to 7. It was fun to investigate new possibilities however. I'm going to continue to use XP in all 3 of my machines and do more backups for safety, then wait for better reasons to upgrade later. Thanks
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